System and method for tire pressure monitoring including automatic tire location recognition

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring vehicle tire pressure. A tire pressure monitor for each tire includes a pressure sensor for sensing tire pressure and a transmitter for transmitting a tire pressure signal representative of the sensed tire pressure. A receiver for mounting on the vehicle receives the tire pressure signals, and includes an antenna to be located at a vehicle site. Each tire pressure signal has an amplitude and, for each tire location, the amplitude has a unique pattern over time for the antenna site. A controller for mounting on the vehicle communicates with the receiver and collects and processes the tire pressure signals to automatically identify the tire location associated with each tire pressure signal based on the unique amplitude patterns. The controller further generates control signals for use in conveying tire pressure and location information to a vehicle occupant.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. In a vehicle having a plurality of tires, each tire having a tire location associated therewith, a system for monitoring tire pressure comprising: 
       a plurality of tire monitors, each monitor for mounting in one of the plurality of tires, each monitor comprising means for determining tire pressure and a transmitter for transmitting a signal representative of the tire pressure determined;  
       a receiver for mounting on board the vehicle for receiving the tire pressure signals, the receiver comprising an antenna to be located on the vehicle at a site, wherein each tire pressure signal has an amplitude and, for each tire location, the amplitude has a unique pattern over time for the antenna site without regard to a data encoding scheme for the tire pressure signal; and  
       a controller for mounting on board the vehicle, the controller to be provided in communication with the receiver for collecting and processing the tire pressure signals to automatically identify the tire locations associated therewith based on the unique amplitude patterns, the controller further for generating control signals for use in conveying tire pressure and location information to a vehicle occupant.  
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein each means for determining tire pressure comprises a pressure sensor, the sensor having an identification associated therewith, and each transmitter is also for transmitting the sensor identification of the associated pressure sensor for receipt by the receiver and for use by the controller in identifying the tire pressure signals as associated with the vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  wherein the receiver further comprises a receiver housing and the antenna is integrated inside the receiver housing. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1  wherein the receiver further comprises a receiver housing and the antenna is external to the receiver housing so that the receiver housing can be located at a different vehicle site than the antenna. 
     
     
       5. In a vehicle having a plurality of tires, each tire having a tire location associated therewith, a system for monitoring tire pressure comprising: 
       a plurality of tire monitors, each monitor for mounting in one of the plurality of tires, each monitor comprising means for determining tire pressure and a transmitter for transmitting a signal representative of the tire pressure determined;  
       a receiver for mounting on board the vehicle for receiving the tire pressure signals, the receiver comprising an antenna to be located on the vehicle at a site, wherein each tire pressure signal has an amplitude and, for each tire location, the amplitude has a unique pattern over time for the antenna site; and  
       a controller for mounting on board the vehicle, the controller to be provided in communication with the receiver for collecting and processing the tire pressure signals to automatically identify the tire locations associated therewith based on the unique amplitude patterns, the controller further for generating control signals for use in conveying tire pressure and location information to a vehicle occupant, wherein the amplitude patterns of the tire pressure signals vary depending on vehicle speed, and the controller is further to be provided with vehicle speed information so that, for each tire location, a stored amplitude pattern of the tire pressure signal at a vehicle speed can be used in identifying the tire location.  
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  wherein each transmitter includes a battery and, to extend battery life, each transmitter transmits tire pressure signals intermittently according to a period. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6  wherein the periods may vary. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6  wherein each transmitter further transmits a protocol for receipt by the receiver, the protocol for use by the controller in determining the periods according to which the transmitters will transmit tire pressure signals. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1  wherein the controller is provided with a initial programming mode for the tire locations, the programming mode comprising, for each tire location, providing the controller with the tire location, transmitting a tire pressure signal from the transmitter associated with the tire location while the tire associated with the tire location rotates, receiving the tire pressure signal at the antenna site, and collecting and processing the tire pressure signal so that the amplitude pattern of the tire pressure signal is associated with the tire location provided. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9  wherein the amplitude patterns of the tire pressure signals vary depending on vehicle speed and the controller is further to be provided with vehicle speed information, and wherein, for each tire location, the controller is further for storing an amplitude pattern of the tire pressure signal for at least one vehicle speed for use in identifying the tire location. 
     
     
       11. In a vehicle having a plurality of tires, each tire having a tire location associated therewith, a method for monitoring tire pressure comprising: 
       providing a plurality of tire monitors, each monitor for mounting in one of the plurality of tires, each monitor comprising means for determining tire pressure and a transmitter for transmitting a signal representative of the tire pressure determined;  
       providing a receiver for mounting on board the vehicle for receiving the tire pressure signals, the receiver comprising an antenna to be located on the vehicle at a site, wherein each tire pressure signal has an amplitude and, for each tire location, the amplitude has a unique pattern over time for the antenna site without regard to a data encoding scheme for the tire pressure signal; and  
       providing a controller for mounting on board the vehicle, the controller to be provided in communication with the receiver for collecting and processing the tire pressure signals to automatically identify the tire locations associated therewith based on the unique amplitude patterns, the controller further for generating control signals for use in conveying tire pressure and location information to a vehicle occupant.  
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein each means for determining tire pressure comprises a pressure sensor, the sensor having an identification associated therewith, and each transmitter is also for transmitting the sensor identification of the associated pressure sensor for receipt by the receiver and for use by the controller in identifying the tire pressure signals as associated with the vehicle. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11  wherein the receiver further comprises a receiver housing and the antenna is integrated inside the receiver housing. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11  wherein the receiver further comprises a receiver housing and the antenna is external to the receiver housing so that the receiver housing can be located at a different vehicle site than the antenna. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11  wherein the amplitude patterns of the tire pressure signals vary depending on vehicle speed, and the controller is further to be provided with vehicle speed information so that, for each tire location, a stored amplitude pattern of the tire pressure signal at a vehicle speed can be used in identifying the tire location. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein each transmitter includes a battery and, to extend battery life, each transmitter transmits tire pressure signals intermittently according to a period. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  wherein the periods may vary. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  wherein each transmitter further transmits a protocol for receipt by the receiver, the protocol for use by the controller in determining the periods according to which the transmitters will transmit tire pressure signals. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11  wherein the controller is provided with a initial programming mode for the tire locations, the programming mode comprising, for each tire location, providing the controller with the tire location, transmitting a tire pressure signal from the transmitter associated with the tire location while the tire associated with the tire location rotates, receiving the tire pressure signal at the antenna site, and collecting and processing the tire pressure signal so that the amplitude pattern of the tire pressure signal is associated with the tire location provided. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19  wherein the amplitude patterns of the tire pressure signals vary depending on vehicle speed and the controller is further to be provided with vehicle speed information, and wherein, for each tire location, the controller is further for storing an amplitude pattern of the tire pressure signal for at least one vehicle speed for use in identifying the tire location.